Well-wishers greet Japan's new princess

A young admirer waves the flag to celebrate the royal birth

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Waves of well-wishers have descended on the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to celebrate the birth of a girl to Japan's royal family.

Tens of thousands of people of all ages lined up to sign a congratulatory book. Many waved Japanese flags and shouted "Banzai!" -- or long life.

The first of many rituals came hours after the healthy six-and-a-half pound princess was born at 2.43 p.m. on Saturday when a court messenger placed a sword embossed with the seal of the imperial family and purple silk robes beside her.

Until next week, when her grandparents the emperor and empress name her, she is simply "Her Imperial Highness the Princess".

VIDEO CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon reports on the birth of a girl for Japan's royal couple (December 2) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Crown Prince Naruhito, 41, commenting on how it felt to hold his tiny daughter, told reporters: "It's difficult, isn't it?"

A mother after more than eight years of marriage, Crown Princess Masako, who turns 38 on December 9, may see the arrival of her daughter generate fresh debate about changing the male-only succession to Japan's ancient Chrysanthemum Throne.

Despite the expected controversy, the birth gave some much-needed good news to Japan, where problems range from record-high unemployment to mad cow disease fears and the threat of global terrorism.

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Some economists even predict that the birth may give consumers a confidence boost and lift the struggling economy.

For the time being, the celebrations were at the forefront of everyone's minds.

The procession of people offering their congratulations at the palace began with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, dressed in a tailcoat, who led a group of senior government officials.

"Many citizens are expressing their delight in a direct way...It is bright and heartwarming," Koizumi was reported as saying before he paid his respects.

"I can only imagine the joy of Their Imperial Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess," he said.

"The birth of Her Imperial Highness the Princess symbolizes the continued prosperity of the Imperial Family and the entire nation is indeed encompassed with joy to greet this wonderful day."

Masako is still likely to face pressure to produce a male heir

In the evening, about ten thousand people were expected to join a lantern festival outside the palace organized by politicians and figures from the arts and academia.

Many people are now hoping to avoid a debate over whether the girl should be allowed to reign because Japanese law forbids women from taking the throne.

A male heir has not been born to the royal family in more than three decades -- Naruhito's younger brother, Prince Akishino, was born in 1965.

The last seven births, including Akishino's own two daughters, have been girls.

Princess Masako, a former diplomat who speaks several languages and studied at Harvard University, had been under tremendous pressure to give birth to a boy and avert a succession crisis.

Elaborate rituals

Many Japanese have succumbed to royal baby fever

According to royal tradition the latest birth will be followed by a series of elaborate rituals.

When the princess is given her first bath, court officials will stand outside the bathhouse plucking the strings of wooden bows in a ceremony said to ward off evil spirits.

The 1,500-year-old imperial household last faced a succession crisis in the late 1920s and early 1930s, when Empress Nagako gave birth to four girls before giving birth to the current emperor, Akihito.

Japan has had several reigning empresses, and its last one was the 18th century Gosakuramachi.

But a succession law drafted after World War II -- part of legal changes redefining the emperor as a ceremonial leader -- imposed the men-only rule.